Latest news with #GKA
LeMonde
8 hours ago
- Automotive
- LeMonde
French Tesla customers sue over brand becoming 'extreme right'
Around 10 French clients with leases on Teslas are suing the US carmaker, run by Elon Musk, because they consider the vehicles to be "extreme-right" symbols, the law firm representing them said on Wednesday, June 11. They feel they suffered "direct and concrete" damage from the way Teslas are now associated with "Elon Musk's actions," the GKA law firm said. They are demanding that the Paris commercial court order their lease contracts be terminated and legal costs reimbursed, it said in a statement, signed by lawyers Patrick Klugman and Ivan Terel. The lawsuit comes as Tesla sales in the European Union have almost halved since the beginning of the year, a slump attributed to Musk's political activities. Those activities include him – until last week – standing firmly with US President Donald Trump, and overseeing efforts to cut down US departments and agencies. He has also lent public support to Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, and came under criticism for making a repeated gesture with an out-thrust arm interpreted by many historians to be a Nazi salute. "Because of Elon Musk's actions (...) Tesla branded vehicles have become strong political symbols and now appear to be veritable extreme-right 'totems,' to the dismay of those who acquired them with the sole aim of possessing an innovative and ecological vehicle," GKA said in a statement. The perception of the Teslas they leased "prevents them from fully enjoying their car," it said. Most of the leases run for four years, with an option at the end to buy the vehicle. Tesla cars in Europe and elsewhere have been targeted by vandals, with some drivers reporting they have been insulted for using what is sometimes called on social media a "swasti-car." Several owners have taken to putting stickers on their Teslas reading "I bought this before Elon went crazy." "The situation is both unexpected and impossible for French Tesla owners," Klugman told Agence France-Presse (AFP). "Musk's political positions have interrupted enjoyment" of the vehicles, and "we believe that Mr Musk owes these buyers the peaceful possession of the thing sold," he said. Contacted by AFP for comment, Tesla did not immediately respond.
Free Malaysia Today
9 hours ago
- Automotive
- Free Malaysia Today
French Tesla drivers file lawsuit over Musk's behaviour
Elon Musk helped bankroll Donald Trump's presidential campaign. (AP pic) PARIS : A small group of Tesla owners in France is suing the carmaker run by Elon Musk, alleging its vehicles have become 'far-right totems' that are harming their reputation, the law firm representing the group said today. The group is seeking to terminate their lease contracts and recover legal costs at the Paris commercial court, citing the 'direct and concrete' harm caused by Musk's public behaviour after he rallied in support of Donald Trump's presidential bid and Germany's far-right AfD party. The group has launched the action against a backdrop of plummeting Tesla sales in core European markets including France, Britain, Germany and Italy, in some cases in protest at Musk's political activities and as customers favour Chinese electric vehicles because of their competitive prices. 'Tesla vehicles have become powerful political symbols and are now perceived as true far-right 'totems,' much to the dismay of those who purchased them solely as innovative and eco-friendly vehicles', the plaintiffs' lawyers Patrick Klugman and Ivan Terel at law firm GKA said in a statement. Tesla Europe did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. GKA said about 10 Tesla leaseholders had joined the lawsuit. Musk helped bankroll Trump's presidential campaign and spearheaded Trump's efforts to cut federal jobs and slash what the administration perceived as wasteful public spending. Musk's involvement in the so-called department of government efficiency (DOGE) saw him become a political lightning rod, fuelling protests and vandalism at Tesla showrooms in the US and Europe. The GKA statement referred to a hand gesture by the billionaire during Trump's inauguration celebrations that drew online comparisons to a Nazi salute as an example of his harmful behaviour. Musk dismissed the criticism of the gesture as a 'tired' attack. Musk said today he regretted some of the remarks he made on social media platform X, which he owns, during an acrimonious and very public falling out with Trump last week.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
French Tesla customers sue over brand becoming 'extreme right'
HighlightsAround 10 French clients are suing Tesla, claiming their leased vehicles have become 'extreme-right' symbols due to Elon Musk's political actions. The lawsuit seeks termination of lease contracts and reimbursement of legal costs, citing that Musk's political affiliations have negatively impacted their enjoyment of the cars. Tesla's sales in the European Union have nearly halved this year, attributed to Musk's controversial political activities and public support for far-right parties. Around 10 French clients with leases on Teslas are suing the US carmaker, run by Elon Musk, because they consider the vehicles to be "extreme-right" symbols, the law firm representing them said on Wednesday. They feel they suffered "direct and concrete" damage from the way Teslas are now associated with "Elon Musk's actions", the GKA law firm said. They are demanding the Paris commercial court order their lease contracts be terminated and legal costs reimbursed, it said in a statement, signed by lawyers Patrick Klugman and Ivan Terel. The lawsuit comes as Tesla sales in the European Union have almost halved since the beginning of the year, a slump attributed to Musk's political activities. Those activities include him -- until last week -- standing firmly with US President Donald Trump, and overseeing efforts to cut down US departments and agencies. He has also lent public support to Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, and came under criticism for making a repeated gesture with an out-thrust arm interpreted by many historians to be a Nazi salute. "Because of Elon Musk's actions... Tesla branded vehicles have become strong political symbols and now appear to be veritable extreme-right 'totems', to the dismay of those who acquired them with the sole aim of possessing an innovative and ecological vehicle," GKA said in a statement. The perception of the Teslas they leased "prevents them from fully enjoying their car", it said. Most of the leases run for four years, with an option at the end to buy the vehicle. Tesla cars in Europe and elsewhere have been targeted by vandals, with some drivers reporting they have been insulted for using what is sometimes called on social media a "swasti-car". Several owners have taken to putting stickers on their Teslas reading "I bought this before Elon went crazy". "The situation is both unexpected and impossible for French Tesla owners ," Klugman told AFP. "Musk's political positions have interrupted enjoyment" of the vehicles, and "we believe that Mr Musk owes these buyers the peaceful possession of the thing sold", he said. Contacted by AFP for comment, Tesla did not immediately respond.
The Independent
12 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Independent
Some Tesla owners sue Elon Musk's company for damaging their reputation
A group of Tesla owners in France is suing Elon Musk 's car company, alleging its vehicles have become "far-right totems" that are harming their reputation, according to the law firm representing the group. The group is seeking to terminate their lease contracts and recover legal costs at the Paris Commercial Court, citing the "direct and concrete" harm caused by Musk's public behaviour after he rallied in support of Donald Trump 's presidential bid and Germany's far-right AfD party. The lawsuit comes amid plummeting Tesla sales in key European markets, including France, Britain, Germany, and Italy, partly in protest of Musk's political activities and as customers favour Chinese electric vehicles due to their competitive prices. "Tesla vehicles have become powerful political symbols and are now perceived as true far-right 'totems,' much to the dismay of those who purchased them solely as innovative and eco-friendly vehicles", the plaintiffs' lawyers Patrick Klugman and Ivan Terel, at law firm GKA said. Tesla Europe did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. GKA said about 10 Tesla leaseholders had joined the lawsuit. Musk helped bankroll Trump's presidential campaign and spearheaded Trump's efforts to cut federal jobs and slash what the administration perceived as wasteful public spending. Musk's involvement in the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) saw him become a political lightning rod, fueling protests and vandalism at Tesla showrooms in the United States and Europe. The GKA statement referred to a hand gesture by the billionaire during Trump's inauguration celebrations that drew online comparisons to a Nazi salute as an example of his harmful behaviour. Musk dismissed the criticism of the gesture as a "tired" attack. Musk said on Wednesday he regretted some of the remarks he made on the social media platform X, which he owns, during an acrimonious and very public falling out with Trump last week. 'I regret some of my posts about President Donald Trump last week. They went too far,' the world's richest man wrote. On the same day that Musk appeared to extend an olive branch, Trump said in a pre-recorded podcast interview that reconciliation between the pair was possible. 'Look, I have no hard feelings,' Trump said in the interview recorded on Monday. 'I was really surprised that that happened. He went after a bill that's phenomenal. …He just — I think he feels very badly that he said that, actually.'
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
French drivers sue Tesla over claim Musk made cars ‘extreme Right' symbols
A group of French drivers are suing Tesla, claiming that Elon Musk has turned their cars into totems of the 'extreme Right'. The lawsuit filed on behalf of 10 drivers in Paris says the perception the vehicles have become political symbols 'prevents them from fully enjoying their car'. It is the latest example of a backlash against Mr Musk for his support of Donald Trump in the US. 'Because of Elon Musk's actions ... Tesla-branded vehicles have become strong political symbols and now appear to be veritable extreme-Right 'totems', to the dismay of those who acquired them with the sole aim of possessing an innovative and ecological vehicle,' said law firm GKA in a statement. The French drivers suing Mr Musk's company are demanding that their leases be terminated and that their legal fees are repaid. Most of the leases run for four years, with an option at the end to buy the vehicle. Tesla's sales in the European Union have almost halved since the beginning of the year, a slump attributed by some analysts to Musk's political activities – but also the company's ageing line-up of cars. Before last week – when he acrimoniously broke with Mr Trump over the president's 'one big beautiful bill' – Mr Musk had described himself as the US president's 'first buddy', providing large donations to his election campaign and serving in his government to help establish the department of government efficiency (Doge). This and the cuts to US international aid that Doge has pushed through have provoked controversy among the Trump administration's opponents. Mr Musk also triggered an outcry at Mr Trump's inauguration with a hand gesture that resembled a Nazi salute. The billionaire has repeatedly insisted he was signalling 'my heart goes out to you'. However, his intervention in German politics to support the far-Right Alternative for Germany party, which has been classified by the country's security services as 'extremist', has also provoked criticism in Europe. In France, prosecutors are investigating an arson attack on a Tesla dealership near the southern city of Toulouse that left eight vehicles burned out and four badly damaged. Activists have branded Teslas 'swasticars', with the actor Alex Winter – best known for playing Bill Preston in the film Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure – running a campaign urging people to 'sell your Teslas, dump your stock, join the picket lines'. Some owners have also placed stickers on their Teslas reading: 'I bought this before Elon went crazy'. Patrick Klugman, one of the lawyers working on the French case, told Agence France-Presse: 'The situation is both unexpected and impossible for French Tesla owners. 'Musk's political positions have interrupted enjoyment' of the vehicles, and 'we believe that Mr Musk owes these buyers the peaceful possession of the thing sold', he added. Tesla has not commented on the case. It came as Mr Musk apologised to the US president for posting incendiary comments on social media that called for him to be impeached and claimed he was named in the Epstein files. 'I regret some of my posts about president @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far,' Mr Musk wrote on Wednesday morning. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
